Kiev - Jewish Tombstones Used to Lay Pavement

Kiev - Brothers David and Zvika Gorvitch, who travelled to Bogoslav, Ukraine, in search of their grandfather’s final resting place, were shocked to find at the entrance to the city’s municipality building, that the stones on the pavement were actually ancient tombstones taken from the Jewish cemetery.
The city of Bogoslav, located in the Kiev district, was once home to a thriving Jewish community. Well-known Jews of last century even lived there, such as author Shalom Aleichem, who spent many years at his grandparents’ home in the city.
Today, the Jewish community of Bogoslav contains just 70 people, out of a population of 17,000 residents. The municipality building where the problematic pavement was found was once a Jewish school.
“I came here in search of my grandfather’s grave, and this is what I find! I am shocked,” said Zvika Gorvitch, “Go figure what road his tombstones is a part of now.”
A member of the Bogoslav Jewish community said the pavement in question was built from the tombstones after the Second World War. “Many people visited the site and promised to take care of the problem, but nothing has changed,” the source said.
“One of the wealthy Jews sent money to the city to remove the tombstones and transfer them to the cemetery, but the city chose to use this money to fix up the public park across the way,” he added.

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Jul 02, 2010 at 12:48 PMeli Says:

On Har Hazeisim in Yerushalayim when the Jordanians had control of it from 1948-1967 the tombstones were taken and used to build roads and even for worse uses. After 1967 new matzevahs had to be made - my Great Grandfather A"H was one of those that needed a new matzaveh.

Jul 04, 2010 at 08:49 AMAnonymous Says:

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Jul 04, 2010 at 10:27 PMAnonymous Says:

In the Bais Oilam Korczyna Poland all the matzaivos that had marble inlays, the inlays are missing and there is a pry mark clearly visible at the edge of where the inlay say. The stones that still have inlays, the inlays are cracked. The Polish mamzerim attempted to remove them but cracked them making them worthless. The weathering and discoloration where the inlay sat is very different from the rest of the stone meaning this is a fairly recent occurence. Yimach shimom vizichrom.